Les Phillips Blog

This commentary was written and posted on Facebook, 10/27/2018.

Before we get sucked into the horror of the slaughter in Pittsburgh, I want to recap what occurred in the last 6 days and its significance.

We have just witnessed an attempt to assassinate 12 prominent Democrats using mail bombs. We have seen a week in which day after day the bombs kept appearing across the nation. The fact that they didn’t explode doesn’t make them any less dangerous, all the postal workers exposed to this danger. What saved us from a bloodbath was the bomber’s ineptitude.

Our national argument to define our guiding values is an example of how the US is still an active experiment in democracy and governance. What we decide, through confrontation and debate will set us on a path that will affect generations into the future; prosperity and peace or, poverty and conflict.

There are some Americans, often conservatives, that believe that the world is ruled by Darwinian, dog-eat-dog forces. There is a set amount of wealth, security, and freedom in the world and it is necessary to protect what you have because, if not, someone else, an immigrant, political opponent, or other undeserving person will take it from you. Because the pie has only a limited number of slices it is necessary to approach everything as a transaction, an exchange of goods or services that, at best, leaves both parties even, but most often creates winners and losers. This transactional world is one of keeping and settling scores.

In a transactional world, ironically, when I succeed I pay a heavy price that increases the threat to my well-being. My gain means that others have lost, generating resentment, a desire to settle the score and likely more problems in the future.

This perpetual shortage implies that things will only get worse and the struggle will become more desperate. The future contains only struggle and loss. No wonder then, that many conservatives find immigrants, border security, taxes, government, and unencumbered voting so frightening. In each case, it is a personal loss that puts them at a worse advantage in their struggle to have a decent life. This is a legitimate concern in a transactional world.

However, there is another world view, supported by everyday experience, that shows us that we can have a world where there is cooperation and concern for fairness on both sides in an agreement. This is the Transformational world, where both sides understand that there is ample wealth to share and no need for a shortages or desperation. This doesn’t mean there aren’t transactional activities, they will continue, but that they are performed mindful of transformational values. The world is not dog-eat-dog; it’s more like dog pack, where each member works for the well-being of its pack mates.

Ample wealth? Currently, there are about 7.6 billion humans on earth. Yet, in the last 25 years, through the efforts of the UN and its members like the US, the percentage of people in abject poverty has dropped to its lowest level ever, even as our population continues to grow. In other areas, such as the growth of the middle class, the same is true. World-wide, the middle class is growing. In the US we are wealthy enough to give $1.5 trillion to the wealthy and powerful.

History demonstrates that new wealth is created every minute by the efforts of everyday people who make, sell, or buy things, i.e. the labor and middle classes. Main street is where wealth is created. That is why wealth world-wide is increasing. The real question is, how to distribute it fairly. In the US we have chosen to give our treasure to folks who are already wealthy and powerful. We impoverish ourselves.

The real problem isn’t illegal aliens, crime, Democrats, Liberals, or even Russians. It is us. It seems that we Americans have locked ourselves into a win, lose mind-set; where the claim is that there is not enough money, work, security or respect. They are right, so long as we continue down the transactional path.

On the other hand, the transformational approach would see everyone prosper, including the wealthy and powerful. Transformational interactions are far better at gathering information and evaluating the transaction in the light of its impact on society and the environment. The wealthy will need to be patient about receiving their cut, because prosperity will start at the bottom and trickle upwards, allowing everyone to share. Besides, if you are wealthy and powerful, you are already set up for security and your physical needs, waiting a bit for your share isn’t unreasonable.

Thus, in the end, we suffer due to the actions we ourselves have taken. We have not seriously looked at other approaches, particularly the transformational, that promise to be fairer in the sharing of our nation’s success. We built this economy over 250 years and have shaped it all along the way. Our economic system is man-made and reflects the thinking of the time. Today, with our fuller understanding about human nature, business, and the interdependence we share with the rest of the planet, we can adjust our capitalist system to be more responsive to human needs while still maintaining its intent.
We need to stop blaming others for our misfortunes. We have done it to ourselves and need to take responsibility and then fix the inequities. In the end we can improve the lot of all groups of Americans; even the wealthy.

Let’s keep this experiment in democracy alive.

Yesterday, in Helsinki, Finland, the President of the United States grovelled, like the bully and sycophant he is, before Vladimir Putin, the man who has engineered a non-violent blitzkrieg against the U.S. and our allies around the world. It was a sickening performance with Trump taking every opportunity to place blame of the current situation, daily cyber attacks by Russia, on Obama and everyone else but himself. As always, he is blameless and a victim.

History has shown us a number of examples where it is possible to remove a tyrant that the Russians installed. Ukraine is an object lesson of how it was necessary for people to gather en mass and demand a change of government. Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in freezing weather, encamped in public spaces, and applied continuous pressure for months. They did not let up until the Prime Minister, Viktor Yushchenko, a Russian puppet who had attempted to return Ukraine to the status of vassal state of Russia.

It wasn’t easy, the supporters of Yushchenko attacked the peaceful pro democracy protesters killing and hundreds and injuring thousands. This brutality didn’t stop the democratic protestors, it firmed their resolve. In the end, democracy won out and was restored to the nation.

We must do the same thing.

We must set aside our many individual issues and disagreements and act as one. Other wise, we will fail, the American Dream will die and with it the network of democratic societies around the world.

Peacefully, with full resolve to finish what we start, we must occupy public spaces indefinitely. We must approach all law enforcement officers peacefully and let them know that we want them to join us. We need their help. The same goes for all federal officers and legal personnel.  We must let the military know that we support them and that we need their help as well.

We must approach every person as an individual and not as a faceless agent of the police, courts or military, but as fellow citizens trying to preserve this great nation.

It is time to get off our asses and into the streets! Every American, regardless of political affiliation must stand up for democracy.

It is time for a national strike.

photo credit: Gage Skidmore, Donald Trump, via photopin, creativecommons by-sa

With all the manufactured crisis swamping me each day, I grow weary and must find an emotional breath of fresh air. On July 4th, I took a walk around my neighborhood. I was thinking about patriotism and citizenship when I felt my energy flowing through my feet into the ground. Each step became slower and heavier. I’d reached burnout.

That’s when I took out my phone and began taking pictures. For me photography is an easily accessible form of meditation. After 20 minutes I was out of my funk and rejuvenated.  Healed.

The picture is of lilies in my neighbor’s garden.

Beauty is all around us, if slow down and look.